Gas reserve for automobiles



May 18 1926. 1,585,260

w.. H. MuzzY GAS RESERVE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 22, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented llc/lay 18, 1925i.

Unirse stares arcuri orig-"ica,

WILLIAM H. MUZZYQos onrcaeo, ILLiivoIs.

GAS RESERVE FOR AUTYO'MQDBIIJEIS.`

Application filed January 22, 1921.

ler

ing fuel.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved devices for reserving a supply of fuel in a single undivided tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide devices for providing a reserve supply of fuel, which will not stick or leak gasoline.

A still further object of the invention is to provide devices which are applicable to tanks already in use and may be fitted to tanks having different threaded connections by simply changing threaded sleeves having standard dimensions for receiving the reserve device.

The invention also has other objects all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

ln the accon'ipanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure l represents a vertical elevation, partly in section of the devices embodying my invention applied to a gasoline tank, the latter being broken away;

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the same;

-Figure 3 represents a detail side elevation of the lower end of the fuel'feeding pipe;

Figure 4 represents a sinrlar view of the lower end of the controlling` sleeve;

Figure 5 represents a detail horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 represents a similar section on the line 6 6 of Figure 1, with the air vent open;

Figure 7 represents a similar horizontal section to Figure 6 with the air vent closed;

Figure 8 represents a detail vertical section through the attaching clamp for the flexible coil shown in Figure 9;

Figure 9 represents a vertical section and top plan view of the dash control attachment for the reserve device;

Figure 10 represents a vertical section Serial No. 439,203.

partly in elevation of a modified form of the device; and

Figure 11. represents a detail-front elevationof the operating arm of the valve sleeve.

Thepresent invention is an improvement on the devices shown and described in my prior patents as follows: Patent 1,407,798 Feb. 28, 1922; Patent 1,407,799-Feb.28, 1922; Patent No. 1,484,900, Feb. 26th, 1924.

Described in general terms-the invention may be said to comprise a gasoline feed pipev extending down vertically into a gasoline tank and connected to a fuel feeding system such for instance as the well known vacuum feed system, or a pressure feed system. This feed pipe is unbroken and the control yof the -same is entirely from the exterior of the pipe and at a` levelapproximately that of the reservelevel of the gasoline in the tank. 'lhispermits of very loose [its and adjustments of the parts without in anywisev disturbing the perfect operationof the parts. When the gasoline in the tank hasreached the reserve level air will enterthe pipe and thus destroy the suction and the feeding of the fuel will cease. Adjustment is now made of a sleeve looselyv surrounding the feed pipe so that theV reserve gasolineY is drawn into the feed pipe and'` thus brought into use. This pipe and sleeve construction lends itself very readily to the application about the sleeveof different sized attaching nipples for differentmakes of. cars., lt is simply necessary to slip off one nipple and slip on the one for attachment tothe car desired, the other parts all remaining theV same. l have shown two forms for operating the parts one from the rearl .of the machine and the other from the instrument board of the machine.

In the aforesaid drawings lrepresents the gasoline tank at the rear of the machine, 2

the gasoline feed pipe preferably connected to a vacuum fuel feeding system, 3 the gasoline feed pipe which projects down into the gasoline in the tank 1, 4 the rotatable sleeve that loosely surrounds the pipe 3. This latter pipe is connected to an attaching nipple 20 to which the pipe 2 is connected by a compression coupling 21. The nipple 2() is formed withfan index plate 19 on which the words Off and"\Res are formed. The operating handle 5 is rigidly connect-ed lto the upper end of the sleeve 4 so that when the handle is turned from the Od position to the Res position the sleeve will be rotated and the elongated opening 3a near the lower end of the pipe 3 will be closed by the opening 9 of the sleeve passing out of its registering position with said opening 3a. In Figure 6 the openings are shown as registering while in Figure 7 they are shown as out of registering position. In this latter position the opening 3a is of course closed and the pipe 3 practically remains unbroken for its entire length and will draw all of the gasoline out of the tank 1. The area of the openings 3a and 9 are such that should these openings be slightly out of alignment bef cause of the handle being adjusted to a position not exactly on the line Gif there still will be enoughair pass into the pipe 3 to destroy the suction. In the reverse position the openings are well out of register and there is no chance of a misa-djustment. The sleeve 4 is formed with a series of apertures 10 located preferably .above the aperture 9. The oiiice of these apertures is to admit gasoline freely to the slight space between the sleeve and the gasoline pipe 3 to seal this space against any chance of air pulling down between the sleeve and the pipe and through the opening 3a. These apertures however .are not essential to the operation of the device and may be omitted if desired.

As the gasoline feed pipe 3 extends down loosely through the sleeve 4 means must be provided for anchoring it in position to prevent it rising vertically and becoming displaced. To accomplish this result I provide the pipe 3 with a lateral pin 11 projecting through the same to one side of the middle line as shown in Figure 5. The sleeve 4 ends immediately above this pin and is formed with a projecting finger 12 which, when the handle 5 is operated, contacts with the opposite ends of the pin 11 and thus limitsV the rotary movements of the sleeve and stops the sleeve in the proper position with the openings 3L and 9 exactly registering. A collar 13 rests upon the ends of the pin 11. A coil spring 8 loosely surrounds the sleeve 4 and bears with one end against the collar 13 and with the opposite end against a washer 14 mounted loosely on the sleeve. The washer 14 bears against the under side of the attaching nipple 6 which is screw threaded as at 15 to be screwed into the plate 7 which is attached by rivets 22 to the top of the tank 1. The head of the nipple 6 is formed into a nut so that it may be turned down tight. A fibre washer 16 rests upon the top of the nipple 6 and is drawn down tight upon the same by the hub of the handle 5 which is fast to the sleeve 4. A washer 18 is located about the pipe 3 Iand between the disk 19 and the hub 17 of the handle. It will be seen from the above that die tension of the expanding spring 8 forces the pipe 3 downward and thus draws the disk 19 downward. This results in both of the fibre washers being forced down tight enough to form gas tight joints between the parts and prevent any leakage of gasoline from splash. The spring also anchors all the parts in position on the tank and also provides suflicient friction to the hub 17 to hold the handle 5 in its different adjusted positions. This friction is not sutlicient however to interfere in any way with the free operation of the handle 5 or the arm or handle shown in Figure 9. rlhis is particularly desirable in connection with the devices shown in Figure 9 and which are operated from the instrument board of the machin-e. In devices of this character it is too expensive and cumbersome to try and operate devices at the rear of the machine with rods, levers or gears which would be necessary in the operation of such devices that required any considerable degree of force.

In order to employ the cheap and elticicnt so called Boden shaft comprising a coil of spring wire enclosing a loose longitudinally movable wire, it is necessary to. provide devices that will operate with a minimum amountI of friction and that rcquire very little force. If the devices require any considerable force to operate them, the Boden shaft will not operate as the resistance at one end of the shaft or wire will cause the wire to simply expand the coil or tube enclosing it and there will be no movement of the wire at the end opposite to that at which the operative force is applied. As far as applicant knows no devices have yet been devised that are effective in controlling the reserve and at the same time work so freely that they can be worked from a distance with a device of the character of the Boden shaft. With taH per valves and all other valves which must act as valves in the line7 the force required to operate them is considerable. The Boden shaft could not be used in such cases. It is the very peculiar construction of ap` plicants reserve control that permits the employment of loose fitting sleeves and other parts that a child can operate and still retains efficiency and accomplishes the object sought without any sticking and without any leaking' of gasoline. It will be understood that this result is accomplished by locating the air vent 3a in the gasoline tank and submerging the same with the main contents of the tank and that the fuel is fed through the opening 3a as well as through the open end of the pipe and that this feed does not stop until the level of the gasoline descends below the level of the opening 3a when air enters the pipe 3 through this opening and the feed of the gasoline stops. Should the opening 3a be only partly 'closed ,and only vpartly destroy the vLacuuin in the ipipe v3., `.the feed .Would still continue as only a very slight vacuum in, the pipefwould .be necessary to raise the gzlsolinetheineh `or two that Would-:be necessary to take .it pasttne opening 8 When it `would receive the y:full vacuum. Applicantihastaken advantage of this construction .andopenationto prov-ide .a freely .o perating .valveor sleeve which might `very well .be compared i to4 a loose. or partly vropen valve. rThis peculiar -function vof .applicants device A isgtnlly setiorth` in applicants Vfirst hereinbel'ore mentioned patent.

ln the modified 'orm 'of .applicantsinvention .shoivnlin Figure 9 the handle 5 is replaced ,With .fan arm y.or handle 25, .the other parts'beingthe same with the` exception thatjithe attaching nipple 20 Aprojects atwa right iangle-tofthe .position it occupies in'fFignre2. ,This ,arm 25, .as shown in Fig ure .12, is biturcated at itsend as zit-34 .to .-feceive ,fthe apertnred block .35 through which the pivot vbolt .26 passes. The block 35 .is formed with an apertured .shank 27, see llignre., `in which the end-oi` the Wire 28 is brazed or soldered. This Wire 28 passes -itlirongh a .iflexible .tube 29 formed 'tromia 'coiloi' .spring avire. This tube 29 is .secured ,in position at the tank end by being clamped toithezfuel pipe 2 by a clamp member 32a. The .clamping portions and 3.4. of .this clamp are clamped to the pipe `2 4and rt-he tube 29 respectively by clamping screivsB-laand 321asbest shown in fligure 8. This. clamp brings thethrust and pulhotithe wire 2S Vin direct vline .Wit-h the pivot pin or bolt 26 when the lever 25 .isinieither of Lits. set positions. Asthe lever .2.5lpasses `from one to=the other ot its positions the wire 28.bends totpermit `such actionfivhich isI out. of direct line, but as-this Wire is a vspring Wire the operation is smooth )and veven. This is 4.an additional means/ot 'holding the'lever set in its adjnsted positions. The .dash board .end oi the ivire1`28 is secured by soldering or otherwise in shank `3T having Aan `operating head This shank is mounted in atube 5.7 haring .an .attaching plate .38 which Vis secured by bolts 39 to the. instrument board fil-Ooi the ymachine. The vend olf .the coil 29 is clamped in the lower end of the tube 57. hentheparts are inthe position shown in Figure 9 the stem 37 is projecting from the dash board and is a constant reminder to the driver that the reserve supply is being used and' that he should have the tank refilled. After the tank has been refilled this shank extending from the dash reminds the operator that he has not reset the device as hc should. TWhen the parts are in the position shown in Figure 9 the opening 3 is closed and the reserve is being drawn on but when the knob 36 is depressed and the shank 37 .forced into .the tube 57 the Wire -28 is moved ilongitudinally inthe tube v29 and theilever 25 is moved to .the .position shoWni-n .dotted linesin Which Vthe `sleeve l opens the air .ventt This is the main running position. After the main supply ofthe gasolineis exhausted the yknob 36 is pulled out and the reserve is available. T his reserve is good for about twenty live miles or -nrore .according to themileage per gallon oi' .the machine.y After the device has been` in use 'lor a While and the operator becomes :familiar with it, he is informed by the .missing ofhisengine, when it about Lto stop7 by the main supply-becoming exhausted, and by pulling. out the knob 36 at oncehe is enabled to go ahead upon his reserve Without the engine stopping.

lis the knob -36 is so located on the instrument board `that it is in plain sightpevery time #theoperator looks at the board it is sullicient reminder as to the adjustmentso' the parts to prevent the parts being .accidently lett inthe wrongadjustments.

"In Ythe moditied form of my `invention shoivnin Figure lOit-he unbrokenetuel *feeding pipc?) .eXtendsdoWn i-nto the tank just as in thei'rstinstance. 54 :.iormed 4with 4-a port 56.7covers and .un-l covers .a correspondingport in thepipe 53. This sleeve is prov'idedavith an-eXtension into which is screwed the lower end .of .a-rod 50. f his,rodextends upthrongh a `passage i6 lorinedinnn attachingmipgle 49 having screw threads 41T for attaching it toV thetank asin fligure l. The rod 50 is bent into a handle 52 .and is i provided with .a limiting collar `5l. The upvvard ino-vement of the handle 52 is limited/by .a .pin 54 onthepipe 53. Thisflgripe .is setin the nipple 49 .which latter is formed with threadsftor `the Aattachment of the pipe line. Inlthisform raising and lowering Ithe Vsleeve 5.4 .brings @the reserve or `the niain :supply into ...connection with: the steed pipe.

'lt lwill be .seen :from the foregoing that by this peculiar construction allowing ior a The sliding sleeveA very loose litt-ing valve, that l am enabled i to usethe .tel-escoping-sleeves and secure a very compact ,and .very desirable construction 'which .allows the .application without change otdi'll'erent size attaching nipples. ltit .were necessary to have 4t-hetelescoping sleeves lit closely togetherrthe construction would not be practical for use submerged in gasoline or other liquid of a corroding nature. The close fitting sleeves would soon become locked together by corrosion and could not be operated. v

The peculiar mounting of the tank end of the tube 29 by attaching it to the gaso* line leed tube secures a toggle action or operation ot the arm 25. This arm is secured to the sleeve 4 which is free to rotate, While the tube 29 is secured to the feed pipe Which practically passes down inside of the sleeve. "lhe turning of the sleeve would thus have a tendency to turn the tube 3 with it, but the very force that is turning the sleeve is anchored to and starting its thrust from the rigid connection of the tub-e 3 and thus tends io turn the tube in the opposite direction.

The question of eas;Y operation in devices of the character herein described is a vital one and marks the line between practical and inipracliiai devices. About let feet of fle);- ibe tubing is necessary in the dash controlled device and should the valve operation at the rear require any considerable force te operate it, the coils of the tube would simply expand without any operation taking place at the rear of the machine as before, described.

To insert different sized nipples 6 the pin ll is pulled out and the spring 8 removed, The handle or lever 25 may of course be operated at the rear of the machine if deeired.

The rod e() is held in its adjusted positions by friction between the rod and the nipple fet-9 through which it passes. An additional safeguard is the fact that when the rod 5() is in its lower position the reserve is Gif and should the rod jar to this position at any time after being raised it will siinplil stop the engine again and the operator will have to reset it. Y

Having thus described my invention what l claim as .new and desire to secure by lietters Patent is:

l. The combination with a fuel tank, of an unbroken freely rotatable, a aertured fuel feeding pipe extending down into the tank and having an attaching nipple, a freely rotatable apertured valve sleeve surrounding and supporting the pipe movably within the tank means to rotate the sleeve to open and close the aperture in the pipe to feed the main supply or the reserve supply, and means for anchoring the valve sleeve to the top of the tank but leaving' it free to be rotated at will without moving the inner feed pipe.

2. The combination with a fuel tank, of an unbroken feed pipe extendingdown into the same and having an air vent ata certain distance from its lower open end, an apertnred sleeve surrouding the exterior of the pipe .means to rotate the sleeve to open and close the air vent, an attaching nipple and a spring for anchoring the parts in position.

3. The combination with a fuel tank, of au unbroken feed pipe extending down into the saine. and having' an air vent at a certain distance from its lower open end, an apertured sleeve surrounding the exterior of the pipe and movable to open and close the air vent, an attaching nipple surrounding the sleeve, an expanding spring also surrounding the sleeve, ineens on the feed pipe engaged and means for operating the apertured sleeve by the spring for anchoring the pipe in position.

et. rlhe combination with a fuel tank, of an unbroken feed pipe extending down into the saine and having an air vent at a certain distance from its lower open end, a sleeve surrounding the exterior of the pipe and movable to open and close the air Vent, a handle exterior of the tank for operatingl the sleeve, a spring forcing the sleeve and pipe downward, an attaching nipple surrounding the sleeve, and a gas tight packing interposed above the nipple and drawn into position by the spring.

5. The combination with a fuel tank, of an unbroken feed pipe extending down into the same and having an air vent at a certain distance from its lower open end, a sleeve surrouiuling the exterior of the pipe for opening and closing the air vent, means for limiting the movements of the sleeve, a spring for anchoring the sleeve and the pipe in position, an attaching nipple surrounding the sleeve and means for operating the sleeve.

6. The combination with a fuel tank, of an unbroken feed pipe extending down into the same and having an air vent at a certain distance from the bottom of the tank, a sleeve surrounding the exterior of the pipe for opening and closing the air vent and leaving the pipe unbroken except for t-he air vent, a handle exterior of the tank for operating the sleeve, an attaching nipple surrounding the sleeve, and a detachable spring for holding the parts together so that different sized nipples may be substituted at will.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

l/VILLIAM H. MUZZ Y. 

